Bicycle Mechanics - Will suicide brakes work with v-brakes?

i am thinking of getting bullhorn brakes and bar-end shifters, and using cyclo style suicide clamp on levers, and just wondering if this would work with my v-brakes.

~~thanks

You need to get a longer pull lever to work with v-brakes. Tektro RL740 is one such lever.

"Suicide levers" ATMO refers the the lever extensions you see on old 10-speeds. Today's interrupter levers work much better so there's no reason to call them suicide levers.

I believe you're confusing so-called suicide levers with cross/interrupter levers. Paul interrupter levers (http://www.paulcomp.com/crosslever.html) can be used as both short pull (std) or long pull (linear brakes) levers. There may be other long-pull levers available, too.

probably not, but you can try it. they also make a device called a travel agent that you can put in-line with your cables to create more pull. v-brakes requires more pull than any other brakes.

this is what i am trying to do, only with v-brakes (obvious)

the pauls? no way i would pay that much, no way in hell

i will have to call rivendell and see if the tektros can be wired this way for the bullhorns. if this gets too dumb, i am just gonna get a trek 1.1 or some such and be done with it, but really trying to mod the bike i have and save some money (if that's possible lol)

thanks again everyone

You're image doesn't quite do it here. With 'cross-levers' (and Paul is probably the most costly and likely the nicest - but by no means the only choice). The cross-levers would best be mounted close to the stem on the handlebars. The other levers, which use the same cable as the cross-levers, would mount closer to your bar ends. "Suicide-Levers" were a throw-back in (the trash) by the early 1980's. They were generally sloppy and, in an emergency-braking application - likely to put you on the hood of a car.

I suggest you sit down and re-think the idea of where you'd want BOTH sets of levers. Make some sketches. And then talk to Rivendell - or whosoever.

Have fun!

the brake levers in question are cross or interrupter levers, just at the end of the bullhorn (bolted upside down)....i am looking to replicate that, no other brake levers. the actual bike in question uses roadie brakes, not long pull v-brakes, and sorry for calling them by the wrong name, but i cannot change the name of the thread. hell, if i could delete this thread and start over, i would.

the brake levers in question are cross or interrupter levers, just at the end of the bullhorn (bolted upside down)....i am looking to replicate that, no other brake levers.

Do you have unusually long fingers/hands? Levers designed for the flat part of the bars stick out further relative to levers designed for the curved part. As can be seen in the pic, the cross/interrupt levers are much further away from the bar than a TT lever would, making for a long reach, which is likely uncomfortable for most folks.

I agree with Jive, those levers were designed for straight sections of bars, you need a lever designed for a curved section of bar. Therefore, Dia Compe, Cane Creek, and Tektro all make V-brake compatible levers that will work well in this position, I like the Tektro ones best myself (Cane Creek are essentially the same levers as Tektro, but re-branded and with the price increased a bit).

Me thinks we should publish a bike-map and definition sheet. Then we could get the gist on the first take. Sit on the bike while holding a wall with the palm of your hand. Find out where your hands will be. You'll be fine! Easy fix if you decide to.